frailty

noun

frail·​ty ˈfrāl-tē 

plural frailties

1

: the quality or state of being frail

the frailty of her health

the frailty and disability in the elderly

2

: a fault due to weakness especially of moral character

Satire … often employs irony and sarcasm to denounce the frailties and faults of mankind.

—Harry Shaw

Synonyms

• demerit
• dereliction
• failing
• fault
• foible
• shortcoming
• sin
• vice
• want
• weakness

Choose the Right Synonym for frailty

fault, failing, frailty, foible, vice mean an imperfection or weakness of character.

fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in disposition, action, or habit.

a writer of many virtues and few faults

failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character.

being late is a failing of mine

frailty implies a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation.

human frailties

foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy.

an eccentric's charming foibles

vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but it often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others.

compulsive gambling was his vice

Examples of frailty in a Sentence

the frailty of her voice

We can no longer be surprised by the frailties of our political leaders.

Recent Examples on the Web

Twain therefore presents a tantalizing challenge for literary biography: to explain how someone able to spot and depict frailties of conscience, character, and judgment in others could be so powerless to correct them in himself. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025

But despite what studies say about flavonoids’ broader health benefits, whether they’re connected to certain aspects of aging, including frailty, poor physical function, and poor mental health, isn’t well researched. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025

The defensive frailties of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side are exposed time and again in a 3-0 loss. —Rob Tanner, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

Trump pressed his aide Steven Cheung the day after the debate on how to change the narrative to focus on his own strength rather than on Biden’s frailty. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English frelete, freelte, borrowed from Anglo-French freleté, going back to Latin fragilitāt-, fragilitās, from fragilis "liable to break, weak, fragile" + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

frailty

noun

frail·​ty ˈfrā(-ə)l-tē 

plural frailties

1

: the quality or state of being frail

2

: a weakness of character